[ Watashi ]

[ Tomodachi ]

[ Saint Seiya ]

[ Clamp ]

[ Fanfiction ]

I winced inwardly as the wood pole struck me squarely on the right side. Desperately, I fought the impulse to move my right foot on the right to compensate, and managed to achieve a passable defence position. My opponent's saber hit mine, and I knew in a flash I wouldn't be strong enough to hold my stance. Reflexively, I stopped resisting and yielded, going along with my adversary's impetus. During a fraction of a second, he was surprised and I saw an opening in his guard. No choice. No time. I threw myself in the direction of the weakness I percieved.

I hit the ground like a dead weight, too astounded to fall correctly. Incredible. At the last moment, he had managed to move aside, I had lost my balance and he had ended it by a gentle hit in the middle of the back. That one hadn't even stung. I heard a sigh behind me, and slowly got up. We bowed to each other, and then put our weapons away. I rubbed my right side cautiously, and thought it likely I'd have a mark during a week or two.

"Your feint was good Fiona-san..."

I kneeled on the ground beside him, watching the peaceful garden basking in the morning light.

"Unfortunately you didn't follow it correctly. Where was your mind Fiona-san ?"

I bowed my head, whispering :

"I am sorry Sakamoto-sensei... Really..."

He shook his head.

"Sorry does not help, Fiona-san. You are continually scattering your concentration in several directions at once. This is not a way to settle whatever is on your mind, it is bad for your training, and moreover bad in your life."

My fingers closed on my clothes, and I felt ashamed of myself. He was right, I knew he was. But I couldn't help myself. Sometimes I simply could not tear my mind away from what was happening in the world. Sometimes it hurt too much. A hand gently pressed my left shoulder and he said in a kind voice :

"The unhappiness of this world is not your responsability, you know that. Grieving over it, being obsessed by it won't help. If you are conscious of it, then focus yourself on a solution, on a part you can play... Not on the problem."

I looked at me, in earnest.

"I may sound harsh to you, but it would be a pity to let you be engulfed in your sorrow. When I introduced you to this art as part of your Aikido training, I knew at once you had the talent. You are a natural, you mustn't waste that gift..."

He was smiling gently. I looked at the carps in the small pond, I listened to the wind and tried to absorb what he had told me. Eventually, I told him :

"I'll try to find a better focus, sensei... But I'm afraid your hopes on me are wasted."

I quickly cut the rope holding the truss of straw, and scattered it in the stall. The bay gelding immediately began to whinny, demanding his morning feed, and I smiled.

"Okay Final, okay... You'll have it in a moment. Be patient..."

As if you could ask a horse to be patient about food... Outside, the day was dawning, and the events would begin in a few hours. I went to the other stalls, and began to take off blankets and protection bands. There was still an awful lot of things to do. I was late. As usual.

"Cloud's turn will come this afternoon, and his number is among the last competitors, so I guess it wouldn't hurt if you took him out a bit. He needs to warm up and work a little, calm down a bit. Steve will help me while you're taking care of that... Is that okay by you ?"

I nodded, smiling.

"Sure Pascale, no problem... Ah, will you be using the Pessoa ?"

She thought about it then nodded.

"Yes, that's best. Don't exhaust him, hear me !"

I laughed.

"Don't worry, I promise you he'll be his usual insufferable self this afternoon !"

While going to Cloud's stall, I thought for the thousandth time I was really lucky to have a friend who was a professional rider. Riding her fantastic horses was one of the greatest pleasures of my life, thanks to her I could do things I could never have dreamed of doing otherwise. Sometimes, one had to admit life could be fun.

Cloud was playing with his bit, enjoying the exercice. I smiled, breathing the fresh morning air and listening to the birds. The Pessoa had always worked best with the big stallion, it was one of the few bits that allowed his rider to control him correctly once on the field. And one had to have perfect control with the height of the fences in an international showjumping event. Gently, I gathered the reins, and began working him a bit more seriously.

My right leg pressed Cloud's flank while the other kept in contact at the girth's level. I shortened my left rein a bit, to curb his neck on the correct side and began an exercice a bit more complex. It felt so good to be able to focus my mind on a single thing... There was no one else on the outside training field yet, and that was best. Suddenly, I felt Cloud's great body tensing, and saw in the corner of an eye something flying towards us.

Cloud shied, and it took me a few seconds to get in control again. The last thing I wanted was to hurt his mouth now. Damn ! What had happened ? Gently, I stroked his neck, whispering softly meanignless words in a soothing tone.

"It's okay little one, it's okay... Don't tell me an ugly brute like you is so easily frightened..."

I went down, and he snorted. I looked back, and saw a blue scarf on the sand of the field. Leading my horse, I went to it, and at the same time heard someone running towards us.

"A... Are you okay ? I'm terribly sorry, I..."

The young woman stopped at a safe distance from Cloud, wary. I asked her :

"This scarf is yours ?"

Panting, she nodded.

"Yes... Look... I'm really sorry... The wind took it away..."

I sighed, shrugging.

"It's okay, don't worry. You only startled us... And besides, I need a test once in a while... It's a good way to know you haven't lost the knack of it... Try to fasten it better..."

I looked at her for the first time. She was tall and slim, and had a look of utter vulnerability about her. She seemed so delicate, so fragile... Suddenly, I noticed her eyes. They were pure gold. As she was putting her scarf on her hair, I abruptly realised her ears were not normal. She... She had pointed ears. Although she was bound to have noticed the surprise in my stance, she ignored it, and I thought it really wasn't nice to stare like that. Infirmity was already difficult enough to live with on its own. She didn't need me to add to it. She smiled warmly to me.

"I certainly will..."

She looked at Cloud.

"It's really a beautiful horse you have... Will it be in the events of today ?"

I nodded.

"Yes. This afternoon. The name's Cloud."

She turned to the stallion, saying :

"Good luck Cloud, I'll support you, and I hope you'll win !"

Abruptly, she turned to look behind her, and I saw a distant figure. She had an apologetic smile.

"I have to go now. I'm sorry for the trouble I caused."

She ran away, as swift as the wind. In a few seconds, she joined the indistinct figure and they both vanished slowly in the woods next to the training field. I stroked Cloud's nose, shaking my head :

"Strange people, don't you think ?"

I shrugged. I had other things to do than spending my time day-dreaming. I quickly remounted and continued to work.

I wiped a few drops of sweat away, smiling. It had been a hard day, but it had also been very very good. Fifth place in the preliminary event to the Grand Prix tomorrow. Pascale was certainly having champain right now. Well, she could enjoy it without me. As much as I loved horses and the world of showjumping, parties with the rich and powerful did not interest me in the slightest. I ended my last survey of the stalls and decided to call it a day.

Thunder resounded in the distance, and I mentally reviewed the way I still had to walk before getting home. It was hopeless. As I thought this, I felt something wet on my right hand. I looked at the water drop disgustingly and sighed. Rain. What had been a beautiful Summer night up until now was rapidly turning into a storm. No help for it, I'd be soaked through by the time I got home.

Almost there. I sneezed, accelerating, and suddenly thought I saw a movement on my left. At the same time, something struck me violently and I fell on the pavement.

"Damn it !"

Someone had run into me, and the same someone was now preventing me from getting up, seemingly paralyzed. I shoved him away.

"Can't you pay attention to where you're going ?"

Lightning illuminated the scene.

"What ?!"

It was a young woman. Another lightning let me see her more closely. It was the same girl as this morning. Yes, I recognized her beautiful golden eyes, and her blue scarf was almost undone, revealing her pointed ears. She was shivering convulsively. She had a look of terror on her face, and I would have bet anything there were tears beside rain soaking her face. At the same time, I thought I heard someone running. Without thinking, I took her hand and pulled her up, drawing her with me. There was resistance at first, but then she followed me. I started running.

I closed the door and locked it, leaning against the wood frame, out of breath. Gods, this had been quite a run. There was still no reaction from my companion. Apparently she was under deep shock. Whatever had happened to her had to have been really bad. I gently led her to a sofa and gave her a towel to dry herself, saying :

"Hey ! It's okay now ! You're safe, I'll help you, you don't need to be afraid anymore..."

She wasn't even looking at me. Sighing, I took a blanket and wrapped her in it. I had to call the police. I went to the phone, and swore.

"Shit ! The cursed line is dead !"

That didn't suit me. Didn't suit me at all. Suddenly, there was a pounding on the door, and I whirled around, a flow of adrenalin rushing through my body. The young woman whimpered, and I went to the sword hanging on the opposite wall. I unhooked it slowly, thinking this had to be another nightmare. Couldn't be happening. As my hands closed on the hilt, I felt a deep calm coming over me, and breathed deeply. All at once the door gave way and the light went out.

A dark shape rushed towards me, and I dimly saw long, very long hair and the glimmer of metal. A sword... Instinctively, I adpoted a defence stance, and my blade caught a savage blow. The shock of steel violently hitting steel made a ringing sound in the dark. Damn... He was way too strong, and his blade was wider than mine. It had to be a saber of some kind. Desperately, I went down and rolled on the left, coming back between him and the terrified girl. I yelled :

"Damn you ! Leave us be !"

At the same time, he struck again, but this time I couldn't catch the blow. My sword was wrenched from my grasp and his blade ended its course in my left arm. I backed away, distantly hearing the sound of my weapon hitting the ground. Paralyzed, I looked at the steel rushing towards me, and wondered what there was once you died.

"Yashaaaaa ! Stop ! Stop !"

The sword stopped about an inch from my face. The cry had come from the young woman. Suddenly, I moaned as the pain reached my brain, and I backed to the wall, leaning heavily on it. The feeling of warm blood running down my arm and dripping on the floor seemed unreal. The woman got up and went to him, saying :

"It's okay Yasha, she was only trying to help me... She didn't know... I couldn't tell her it was you... Please forgive me..."

He put his sword down and hugged her tenderly, asking soflty :

"Are you all right beloved ? Is... ?"

She leaned a few seconds against him, shaking, then said :

"We'll worry about that later."

They turned in my direction and the man came slowly towards me. I looked desperately at my sword, out of reach, and tensed, ignoring the pain.

"Stay away from me..."

I tried to avoid him, but he caught me and looked at me, saying :

"I won't hurt you. I'm sorry about what happened. You only tried to protect the person I love while I thought you wanted to harm her..."

I shook my head. This was crazy.

"Who in hell are you ?"

Ignoring my question, he tore my shirt's sleeve, revealing the wound and pursed his lips.

"Well, fortunately it's not too bad."

Suddenly, he took me in his arms and carried me to the sofa, as if I were still a small child. I grabbed his shirt.

"WHO ARE YOU ?"

He let me down gently, and I yelled, mad and scared at the same time :

"DAMN YOU ! ANSWER ME !"

The young woman looked worriedly at my face.

"Please, don't be upset. We're sorry you got hurt, really. If I could have avoided this, I would have. Forgive me... I beg you, let Yasha take care of your wound. Once it's done, we'll try to explain..."

Said Yasha stared steadily at me.

"There is no chance you will forget this unfortunate incident... Is there ?"

Unable to help myself, I laughed. This was complete nonsense, it was ludicrous.

"Unfortunate incident ? I guess I could pretend to forget about it if my life was at stake... Is it ?"

For the first time, he smiled, gently.

"No... Not if we can trust you... And seeing what you did for my companion, I think we can."

Abrutply, my body ran out of adrenalin, and I felt exhaustion taking hold of me. I closed my eyes, whispering :

"Great... This is really... great... What a day..."

And tomorrow was the Grand Prix. Oh my...

End of Part 2.

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